VENEER PROCESS
Life-changing smile transformations.
PROCESS OF PORCELAIN VENEERS: A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE
Porcelain veneers are a game-changer when it comes to achieving that perfect smile. These delicate ceramic layers are customised to fit over existing teeth, instantly transforming imperfections into a smile you will love. Discover how you progress from that initial consultation to flaunting your own set of pristine veneers. We take you through each and every stage of getting porcelain veneers, to share the art and science behind them.
STEP 1.
Initial Consultation
Stepping into the world of porcelain veneers begins with the all-important initial consultation. This sets the tone for your veneer journey, ensuring that every decision to come is tailored to your unique needs and desires.
Setting the Stage
Our warm and friendly team at Dental + Skin Clinic will greet you and ensure you feel at ease. The initial consultation is an opportunity for us to get to know you, understand your dental history, and most importantly, hear your smile aspirations.
Comprehensive Dental Examination
Our expert dentists will conduct a thorough examination of your teeth, gums, and overall oral health. Using state-of-the-art equipment, we’ll assess the structure, alignment, and health of your teeth. This detailed analysis allows us to determine the suitability of veneers and identify any underlying dental concerns that might need addressing.
STEP 2.
Smile Assessment and Treatment Planning
This phase dives deeper into your smile, ensuring that the final result surpasses your expectations. We evaluate the symmetry of your face and the curve of your lips… every detail plays a role in crafting a smile that’s uniquely yours.
Using cutting-edge technology, we can create a virtual representation of your desired smile. This advanced tool allows you to see any changes in real-time, offering a dynamic platform for feedback and adjustments. It’s an interactive process, ensuring that you’re actively involved in shaping your smile. You can also check out our porcelain veneers: before and after results.
Based on this, we craft a treatment plan that outlines the steps involved, the expected timeline, and any preparatory treatments that are needed.
STEP 3.
Tooth Preparation
Tooth preparation involves gently reshaping the tooth’s surface to create an ideal base for the veneer. This ensures that the veneer sits flush with the surrounding teeth, providing a natural look and feel.
At Dental + Skin Clinic, we adopt a conservative approach to tooth preparation. Only a minimal amount of the tooth’s enamel, typically a fraction of a millimetre, is removed. This ensures the integrity of the tooth is maintained while creating just enough space for the veneer to bond securely.
The tooth preparation process is carried out under local anaesthesia, ensuring a pain-free experience. Proper tooth preparation ensures a strong and durable bond, reducing the chances of the veneer coming loose or breaking in the future. If you’re wondering: how often do veneers need to be replaced? This process helps their longevity.
STEP 4.
Impressions and Temporary Veneers
With the teeth meticulously prepared, the next phase involves capturing impressions of your teeth and placing temporary veneers. We capture every ridge and contour of your teeth. This ensures that the porcelain veneers crafted by the laboratory technicians mirror the exact shape and size required for your unique dental structure.
The Role of Temporary Veneers
While your custom porcelain veneers are being crafted, it’s essential to protect the prepared teeth. This is where temporary veneers come into play:
- Protection: They shield the prepared teeth from external elements, preventing sensitivity and potential damage.
- Aesthetics: Temporary veneers ensure that you don’t have to compromise on your smile’s appearance while waiting for the final veneers.
- Functionality: They allow you to eat and speak comfortably.
Each temporary veneer is customised to fit your teeth comfortably. While they are not as durable as the final porcelain veneers, they are perfect for this waiting period. Special dental adhesives are used to secure them in place.
STEP 5.
Laboratory Fabrication
Crafting a porcelain veneer is a blend of art and science. Each veneer is handcrafted with precision. Beyond the shape and fit, the colour and shade of the veneer are important.
At Dental + Skin Clinic, we provide the laboratory with detailed shade guides, ensuring that your veneer complements the natural colour of your surrounding teeth. Whether you’re aiming for a brighter shade or a match with your existing teeth, the technicians ensure that the veneer’s colour is spot on.
Once the veneer is crafted, it undergoes a rigorous quality check. This involves assessing its fit against the 3D model, ensuring the shade is consistent, and checking for any imperfections.
Before the veneer is deemed ready for placement, it receives its final touches. This includes polishing to achieve a natural sheen and making any last-minute adjustments to ensure a perfect fit.
STEP 6.
Veneer Placement
With your custom-crafted porcelain dental veneers ready, it’s time for the placement procedure. At Dental + Skin Clinic, we ensure that the veneer placement is seamless and comfortable, and results in a smile that not only looks natural but feels just right.
- Preparing for Placement: Before the veneer is bonded to the tooth, our dentists will clean, polish, and etch the surface of your prepared tooth.
- Trial Fitting: A trial fitting allows our dentist to check the fit, alignment, and appearance of the veneer against your tooth. Any minor adjustments, if needed, are made at this stage.
- The Bonding Process: Once satisfied the veneer is ready to be permanently bonded. A special dental cement, matched to the shade of your veneer, is applied to the veneer. The veneer is then carefully positioned onto your tooth.
- Curing and Setting: To set the dental cement and ensure a strong bond, a special light is used to activate the chemicals in the cement, causing it to harden quickly.
- Transformative Result: Once the veneer is securely in place, any excess cement is removed, and a final polish is given. You can now say hello to your new smile!
STEP 6.
Bite Adjustment and Finalising the Fit
Once the veneer is bonded, our dentist will ask you to bite down and move your jaw in various directions. This allows us to assess how the veneer interacts with your natural teeth. If any high spots or interferences are detected during the bite assessment, adjustments are made. Using specialised tools, our dentist will gently reshape the veneer, ensuring that it aligns perfectly with your bite.
Beyond the bite, the overall fit and feel of the veneer are assessed. This includes checking the edges of the veneer for smoothness and ensuring that it sits flush with the surrounding gum tissue. While aesthetics are a significant aspect of porcelain veneers, comfort is equally important. We ensure that your veneer not only looks great but also feels right.
STEP 5.
Follow-up and Maintenance
A few weeks after your veneer placement, we’ll invite you back to the clinic for a follow-up appointment. This allows us to assess how your gums respond to the veneers, check the integrity of the bonding, and ensure no underlying issues. It’s also an opportunity for you to address any concerns or queries you might have.
While porcelain veneers are resistant to staining, maintaining good oral hygiene is important to ensure they last. Regular brushing with a non-abrasive toothpaste, flossing, and using an antiseptic mouthwash can keep your veneers and natural teeth in top condition.
Beyond the initial follow-up, regular dental check-ups are essential. These routine visits allow us to monitor the health of your veneers, ensure that there’s no wear or damage, and provide professional cleaning to maintain their lustre.
In the rare event that you experience any discomfort or sensitivity or notice any changes in your veneers, it’s essential to contact us promptly. Early detection and intervention can address most concerns so they can be fixed straight away.
Book a Veneers Consult
The journey to a transformed smile with porcelain veneers is a decision that requires careful consideration and expert guidance. At Dental + Skin Clinic, we provide you with all the information, support, and expertise you need to make an informed choice. Book your initial consultation today!
HOW OUR DENTAL VENEERS ARE FABRICATED
Our V.I.P. Smile™ porcelain veneers (Very Individualised Personalised Smiles) are made using state-of-the-art technology in Melbourne and are customised and personalised so that no one smile looks the same. These porcelain veneers are hand-designed and hand-layered with finely-powdered porcelain.
TRANSFORMING SMILES, TRANSFORMING LIVES
MELBOURNE MADE
Our porcelain veneers take close to 60 hours to create from start to finish and are made by an expert ceramicist and an experienced cosmetic dentist in Melbourne.
MULTI-DIMENSIONAL COLOUR
Layering each surface with tailor-made colours allows us to create the perfect balance of radiance, brightness and translucency.
NATURAL-LOOKING & LIFELIKE
For those who want to discover a healthy, lifelike look, our trademark V.I.P. Smiles™ porcelain veneers will give you a smile that looks like you were born with it.
TAILORED TO YOUR FACE
